Balancing justice: comparing whole body and controller-based interaction for an abstract domain

In this paper, we present a quantitative, comparative study of a multimedia environment about social justice that users can control using whole body interaction or a simple control device. We explore the efficacy of using embodied metaphor-based whole body interaction compared to controller-based interaction for an abstract domain (social justice). We describe how conceptual metaphor theory can be applied to the design of a whole body interaction model, focusing on the twin-pan balance image schema and its metaphorical elaboration that structures the concept of balance in social justice. We describe the Springboard system, our methodology and results from a study with 76 participants. Our results indicate that participants were able to interact with our system using both input approaches. However, participants in the whole body group were more deeply impacted by their experiences related to social justice than those in the control device group.